Scholar Katheryn Hume says that literature consists of two forces: mimesis, the imitation and description of people, places and things; and fantasy, the transformation of accepted reality. Seung-chun Lim’s sculptures would seem to therefore be literary – we feel as though his people are caught in the midst of a strange yet compelling circumstance. Lim is a sensitive observer of society. In his native South Korea, like most capitalist systems, there is a yawning gap between rich and poor, with the resulting disenfranchisement of a large sector of the population. Lim focuses on the unfortunate, the wounded and left-behind – not on the specifics of their political or even social circumstances, but rather on their psychological state. By melding fantastic imagery onto his finely-rendered figures, Lim creates portraits which are critiques of intolerant attitudes toward difference. There is a definite sadness to Lim’s people; these are people who are struggling. Yet one cannot regard them merely as hapless victims; their eyes reveal a sensitivity that, in the end, elevates the works into humanistic calls for empathy.

 

BACKGROUND & EDUCATION

 

2001   BFA, Su-Won University, Suwon, Korea

 

SELECTED COLLECTIONS

 

Gusam Art Museum, Korea

National Museum of Contemporary Art, Gwachan, Korea

Moro Gallery, Seoul, Korea

Gyeonggi Museum of Modern Art, Ansan, Korea

 

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

 

2012   Art Prize, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, Grand Rapids, MI

 

2010   New Faces, Andrew Bae Gallery, Chicago IL

 

            The Power of Gyeonggi, Gyeonggi Museum of Modern Art, Ansan 

 

            Intro Exhibition, Goyang Art Residency Studio, Goyang

 

            National Art Studio Exchange Exhibition, Incheon Art Platform, Incheon

 

2009   Theater, Samsung Theater, Busan, Korea

 

            Art Road 77 - With Art, With Artist, Heyri, Paju

 

            Happy Imagination + Making exciting city, Aram Museum, Goyang

 

2008   Young Korean Artists -I AM AN ARTIST, National Museum of Contemporary Art,

          

            Gwachun Ancient Future, Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul 

 

            KIMI For You - Inside & Outside, KIMI Art Gallery, Seoul, Korea

 

2007   National Highway No.1 of Gyeonggi, Gyeonggi Museum of Modern Art, Ansan

 

            Donga Art Awards - Dream Ship 3, Ilmin Art Museum, Seoul, Korea

 

            Accidental Situation On Purpose, Sampyo Space, Ichun, Korea

 

            Collections of Gyeonggi Museum of Modern Art, Gyeonggi Cultural Foundation, 

          

            Ansan, Korea